It’s The Same Song, Right?

Seventeen “Change Up”

One thing I find fascinating about K-Pop as an ultra-casual dilettante is the way English words are scattered through songs that are otherwise performed in Korean. This song by Seventeen is a rather bold example, as the entire hook is in English – “change up, change up, change up” – so if you’re not paying much attention to the verses, it kinda loosely scans as something that’d fit right in with American pop. It’s very easy to imagine a “Despacito” scenario in which Bieber or Drake hopped on the track and smuggled it into the US mainstream, as this is a supremely catchy and well-crafted bit of vaguely hip-hop pop music. My favorite element is the synthesized horn sound on the hook, but the core appeal of this track is the way it flows so effortlessly between a series of strong melodies. There’s a density to the construction of this song, but you never ever feel it.

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